MISSION STATEMENT

Our Calling at Mission United Lutheran Church is to strive to be a Christ-centered community of faith sent by God through the Holy Spirit into portions of Baraga and Houghton Counties.  Our function is to serve God through joyful proclamation of the Word, to encourage regular and faithful participation in the Sacraments, to invite people to follow Christ with us, to become a unifying force between Christians of other traditions, to promote justice and to provide for the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of all people whose lives we touch through our various ministries.

THE HISTORY OF

MISSION UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH

1894 - St. Henry Lutheran Church, Nisula, founded.  First church completed and dedicated to service in 1895.  The new building project was begun and completed in 1904, with remodeling of vestibule and steeple in 1925.

1905 - Faith Lutheran Church, Pelkie, founded as Kyro Ev. Lutheran Church.  Members met in homes until completion of church building in 1917.

1913 - Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Elo, founded.  Construction of first church dedicated to service in 1919.  The new Elo church was built a short distance from the original and dedicated to service in 1949.

1925 - Representatives of the three churches formed the Kyro Parish, pooled their resources and called the first resident pastor.  Faith, Our Saviour's and St. Henry were a part of the Suomi Synod before joining with the Lutheran Church in America in 1962.

1989 - Members of the Kyro Parish, now known as Pelkie Evangelical Lutheran Parish, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, voted to unite as one congregation.  A new name, Mission United Lutheran Church, was later voted on.

1992 - Completion and dedication of the new church building was celebrated.  The Faith Church building was sold and now serves as the Pelkie Mennonite Church.  Our Saviour's Church was sold to a private individual, and the ownership and care of St. Henry's Church was assumed by the Laird Twp. Historical Society.  The Headstart Program was also welcomed in 1992 to share in the use of our new facilities, and continues to do so to this day.

1993 - The Mission Wellness Nurses were installed, and take blood pressures regularly during the fellowship time between Sunday services.

1999 - The Aunus Congregation, in Karelia, Russia, was adopted as our sister congregation.

2000 - The church parking lot was enlarged, and the circular Memorial Driveway was added around the back of the building.  Also added were the awe-inspiring rustic crosses on the hillside overlooking the parking lot.

2001 - We joyfully supported and celebrated our first missionary, Lisa Makela, to Namibia, Africa. 

The following have faithfully served as pastors of our church family since 1925:

1925-1927 Rev. David A. Samanen

1927-1933 Rev. Emil Tervo

1934-1939 Rev. Aarne Juntunen

1939-1945 Rev. Arvo J. Korhonen

1945-1947 Rev. Vilho J. Hanninen

1947-1953 Rev. Frans J. Koski

1954-1957 Rev. John M. Junttila

1958-1964 Rev. Lauri T. Pikkusaari

1964-1969 Rev. Edward M. Groop

1970-1972 Rev. Keith T. Nelson

1974-1981 Rev. James F. Peters

1981-1986 Rev. Terry L. Williamson

1986-2004 Rev. Michael V. Laakko

2005-         Rev. John R. Autio